Celebrating Women Leaders in Tech on International Women’s Day
As International Women’s Day approaches, Verizon’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and gender diversity within its workforce and the broader technology sector comes to the forefront. Verizon prides itself on fostering an inclusive environment, extending to employees and partners alike. The company holds firm in the belief that a strong company is forged through the embrace of diversity across all facets.
In addition to maintaining a 100% pay equity in salary for women and men, Verizon also prioritizes initiatives such as employee resource groups that provide a platform for professional and personal development, fostering an environment that celebrates diversity and addresses unique business challenges across Verizon’s diverse customer base. Within Verizon’s framework, 10 employee resource groups operate, with Verizon WAVE: Women’s Association of Verizon Employees among them.
The company also proudly supports its executive mentorship program for women, a 7-month initiative pairing senior executives with female V Team members to enhance leadership skills and professional development. Today, women in tech emerge as transformational leaders, inspiring future generations of women.
In addition to highlighting the internal strides Verizon takes, International Women’s Day also marks a significant occasion to recognize and celebrate gender diversity within the overall technology sector. Women within this industry are reshaping the narrative and achieving remarkable advancements, defying its historically male-dominated landscape. Their pioneering efforts, opening pathways for future female generations to pursue their aspirations within the field, warrant commemoration. Read on to learn more about a handful of impactful women leaders within the tech industry.
Leslie Berland, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Verizon
With over two decades of strategic and creative marketing expertise, Leslie Berland has held leadership positions, representing world-class brands such as Twitter and Peloton. At Verizon, Berland is the Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer. She oversees everything related to Verizon’s brand and marketing worldwide.
This includes brand identity, marketing campaigns, consumer research, and media collaborations. This includes brand identity, marketing campaigns, consumer research, and media collaborations. Her hard work was recognized in 2022 by Forbes as part of its CMO Hall of Fame and previously included in its annual Most Influential CMO ranking.
Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code
After earning a degree in electrical engineering with minors in mathematics and computer science, Kimberly Bryant began her career in several technical leadership roles. When her daughter began showing interest in the computer science field, Bryant noticed the lack of exposure black women had to STEM topics.
In response, she founded Black Girls Code in 2011, a San Francisco nonprofit that exposes girls of color ages 7 to 17 to STEM subjects. The organization has the goal of teaching 1 million Black girls to code by 2040. Today, the organization has 16 chapters across the United States and one chapter in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kate Crawford, co-founder of New York University’s AI Now Institute
After earning a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney, Crawford began researching artificial intelligence. He focused on how AI affects society, looking at both the potential risks and benefits. Crawford helped start NYU’s AI Now Institute in 2017. It’s the first AI institute led and founded by women. They study how AI affects society. Crawford has published a variety of pieces on the implications of gender, race, and power in AI.
Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code
Reshma Saujani first sought out a career in the political field, as she was the first Indian-American woman to run for Congress in 2010. During the campaign, Saujani noticed the gender gap in computer classes while visiting local schools almost immediately.
In 2012, Saujani founded Girls Who Code to address this problematic gender gap in the tech industry. Girls Who Code offers programs for girls from third grade through college. These programs include online resources, college and career preparation, and after-school clubs. The organization has served more than 450,000 girls, half of whom are from underrepresented communities.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women in technology. Some of these women include Leslie Berland, Kimberly Bryant, Kate Crawford, and Reshma Saujani. They have achieved amazing things in their field. Let’s honor their progress and success in the tech industry.
Let’s celebrate their progress and success in the tech industry. These visionary leaders have not only reshaped the landscape of their respective fields but have also paved the way for future generations of women to thrive in the tech industry.
Their dedication and contributions exemplify the transformative power of diversity and serve as inspiration for all. Let’s look up to those who lead the way in including everyone and promoting gender diversity. Together, let’s strive for a future where everyone, no matter their gender or background, has endless opportunities in the tech industry.